The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-20
THE new ADMINISTRATION.
Governor Ross Message and
Appointments.
Special to the Herald.

Special to the Herald.
AUSTIN, Jan. 20. -- This morning
Gov. Ross sent in his first message to
the legis ature of Texas 1t is quite
lengthy, too long for the HERALD by
telegraph, and it is as able and Demo-
cratic as it is long. The Governors
policy, as outlined in his message, is
sound and generally approved. From
ii the following are extracts:
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House
of Representatives The able and
comprehensive message Of my prede-
cessor in office, already laid before
YOU. together with the biennial re-
ports of the various officers having in
charge the business of the State, has
left no special duty for me to dis
charge in this message save to recon-
mend to your honorable bodies such
legislation as may occur to me to be
cXpedient Congratulating you upon
the wisdom and ability with which
the business of the State seems to
have been conducted for the past two
years, | will proceed at once to sub
NIT to your patriotic consideration
some measures of legislation which |
deem proper to be enacted for the adj
vancement of the State and the pro-
lection of its interests.
REVENUE.
How often is it found that in the
matter of assessments upon .',.l prop
erty which ought to be susceptible to
perfect equality in taxation, that ands
or building. situated alongside of each
other and without any appreciable
difference in value are assessed at dis
proportionate amounts. And the con-
scientious tax payer who sees proper
to render his property at its proper
value is thus forced to pay not only
his proper share of taxation, but also
to pay out Of his means some portion
of the taxes due by his neighbor, and
which his less conscientious neighbor
avoids by under valuation in assess
ments.
think | hazard nothing in the
statement that this inequality in as
sessment has been potent factor i'll
preventing the reduction of the rate
of taxation in our State, and that III
we can devise a proper remedy for
this griev ance we shall soon be able to
lift from the shoulders of the people n
considerable portion of their public
burdens, for just assessment of the
property OF the State at present rates
of taxation would more than fill our
treasury to overflowing.
can conceive of no greater public
calamity to the State than return TO
that system which kept the State
treasury empty, and left the collection
of revenue the voluntary action of the
citizen, i'll contributing or withhold
ing his take, at pleasure. And we are
seriously threatened with that calam-
~ity.
The report OF tho Hon. W. j. swain,
comptroller of public accounts, is re-
spectfully called 10 your attention,
furnishing as it does valuable informa-
ton and suggestions as to the financial
condition of the State. and the pro-
priety of making certain changes in
the laws regulating our financial man
agement From this report it appears
that for the year ending August 81,
1885, the receipts of public money
from the usual and ordinary sources
of revenue were $1,673,98S.22, while
the expenditures for the same period
were 1879, ,381.25, showing a deficit
for that year % $306,39S 03. This de-
flcit was fully covered, as is shown by
said report by the balance on hand at
the bcgih,Jg of said year, which
amounted to $145,29826, and by the
sale of bonds aud loans to the State of
special funds in the treasury, aggre-
eating the further sum of S245, 5,936.41.
For the year ending August 81, 1886,
the total receipts from ordinary |
sources of revenue amounted to
$2,114O31. 40, while the expenditures
amounted to $l,635, 5,4l0l4, and the |
cash balance remaining on hand in the
treasury at the commencement of the |
present fiscal year, September l, 1886,
was 1868, 1920. In this connection
your attention is called to the amount
of deficiencies for which sppropria-
tions are necessary
The late comptroller Is of the opin-
ion that the present rate of taxation
will not only be sufficient 10 defray
the current expenses of the govern
ment economically administered, but
provide a moderate surplus for any
reasonable EN- rgency. And In this
opinion | concur. There are certain
extraordinary expenditures herein
after referred TO and discussed, which !
in my Judgment have become essen
fial. and fhe limited surplus Of reve-
nue. Indicated by these figures should
.admonish US to . prudent husbsndry |